My Genealogy Hound

ORLANDO J. HILER, an opulent citizen of the village of Silver Creek, is a retired merchant and a large holder of some of its valuable real estate. He is a son of Silas and Eunice (Seager) Hiler, and was born at Penfield, near Rochester, Monroe county, New York, July 3, 1842. His father, Silas Hiler, too, was a native of Penfield, where he followed farming until 1846, when he moved to Ashtabula county, Ohio, and still resides there. He has grown grey in farm life and has done a very extensive business, and, although now in his eightieth year, conducts his work with his old-time vigor. Besides being a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, he is prominently identified with religious and educational matters. He is a Jacksonian democrat, and throughout his active life has been an energetic and successful business man. Both branches of our subject’s family are from the New England States, and came to central New York early in this century. He married Eunice Seager in 1836, and she is now in her seventy-fifth year.

Orlando J. Hiler was reared in Ashtabula county, Ohio, and received his education in the common schools. After leaving school he learned the harness-making and saddlery business and conducted a shop of his own for two years at Couneaut, Ohio, and on April 5, 1865, he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, and enlisted in Co. G, 198th regiment, Ohio Infantry Vols., and served until the close of the war. Upon the receipt of his discharge he returned home and engaged in business for one year; then, in 1867, he went to Gowanda, Cattaraugus county, N. Y., and worked at his trade; but on July 14, 1869, he came to Silver Creek and worked for six months as a journeyman and then bought out the business, which he continued for fifteen years. The four succeeding years were spent out of business, and then he opened a general hardware store, which he conducted two years and a half and then retired. Since then he has spent his time quietly but not idly. His large property interests both here and in Ohio require a great deal of attention and keep him employed.

On June 23, 1881, he married Martha R. Ward, a daughter of Doctor Spencer Ward (deceased), late of Silver Creek. Spencer Ward, M.D., was born at Poultney, Rutland county, Vt., in 1807, and was graduated from the Castleton Medical college, afterwards coming to Chautauqua county, in October, 1836, when he located in Silver Creek and soon secured a large practice. Being singularly successful with difficult cases, his fame spread far and near, and he was so completely overworked, and suffering from cancer, that he was obliged to relinquish his practice a couple of years before his death. He died April 13,1874, leaving much property, the accumulations of investments made from the receipts of his large practice. He married Mrs. Ann (Wilmot) Rice, a native of Fair Haven, Vermont, and she bore him two children: Wilmot and Martha It. She died May 29, 1854.

Wilmot Ward, upon attaining his majority, moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, and engaged in the lumber business, but died in the prime of life, January 8, 1861, when but twenty-six years of age. Dr. Ward married a second time, in 1856, to Helen Gates, of Silver Creek. This union resulted in one daughter, Hattie, who married F. W. Thomas and lives in this village. Mrs. Ward resides in her old homestead at this place.

Orlando J. Hiler is a democrat, and has served as a trustee of this town. During his term of office he labored incessantly to improve the condition and advance the business and social interests of the place. He is a gentleman of strong character and enjoys the confidence of all Silver Creek’s people who are acquainted with him.